Animated motion picture machine



June 22, 1937. M, STOREY ET AL 2,084,782

ANIMATED MOTION PICTURE MACHINE Filed April 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor fig g I a Allomeys June 22, 1937. J. M. STOREY'ET AL ANIMATED MOTION PICTURE MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 17, 1936 mmrunmmrin Invenlor Jack Siam? 5 flea/5am Z 5 Smzf v llorneys Patented June 22, 1937 ATE? EFiQE ANEMA'EED MOTION PliCTURlE MACHINE Jack M. Storey and Pleasant E. Smith, l-ierrin, Ill

Application April 17, 1936, Serial No. 75,008

3 Claims. (Ci. 88-l.9)

This invention relates to animated motion picture devices or machines and more particularly to such machines as are used as toys, advertising media and the like.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a toy motion picture apparatus characterized by economy of parts and by an arrangement and assembly of the several el ments productive of a structure having material advantages over like prior art devices, and as will more readily appear as the description proceeds.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with 5 the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken 0 substantially on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view at one end of a reel and web assembly forming part of the invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the web.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view through the casing forming part of the invention with the casing in partially open condition.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a picture plate and Figure 8 is an elevational view of a reel.

In accordance with the present invention, the preferred embodiment thereof comprises a casing 5 of any suitable shape, size and material and in the present instance is illustrated as consisting of a pair of substantially rectangular, rimmed, complemental sections 6 hingedly connected together at one of the longitudinal sides of the casing in any suitable manner although preferably, and as shown, through the medium of a hinged strip 'l 40 of a suitable, durable, flexible material adhesively secured to the rims of the sections as clearly suggested in Figure 6.

Also as shown in Figure 6 in order to provide for a telescoping fit of the sections when in closed 5 position the rim of one of the sections is rabbeted as at 8.

For securing the sections in closed condition any suitable complemental fastener means may be associated with the rims of the sections at the side of the casing opposite to the hinge i. In the present instance, such fastening means is illustrated as being in the form of a latch 9 hinged to an attaching plate secured to the rim of one of the sections and engageable with a keeper element I0 secured to the corresponding rim of the mating section as clearly suggested in Figure l.

In viewing the box or casing as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and at what may be considered the top of the box and slightly inwardly from one end of the box the sections 6 thereof have corresponding portions removed to provide a substantially L-shaped notch 52 which at the same time presents at said end of the box an L-shaped opening 52a as shown.

In this connection it will be noted that the rims of the section it at this end of the box turn the corner of the box to present as suggested in Figure 2 a separating abutment H as Will hereinafter more fully appear.

Further in accordance with the present invention there is provided a rotor, the preferred embodiment of which includes a pair of spaced apart spools or reels iii and M respectively which can be cheaply constructed of wood or the like and are respectively provided with spindles l5 and it respectively.

In the present instance the spool or reel M is journaled within the casing adjacent that end thereof farthest remote from the opening 52a, with the ends of its spindle or shaft it journaled in openings it provided therefor in the walls of the section 6 as shown in Figure 3.

The spool or reel it has the respective opposite ends of its shaft or spindle iii accommodated within slots it provided in the walls of the sections 6 in proximity to the opening 52a as shown in Figure 1.

The slots it are of the bayonet-slot variety and at one end are reversely turned to provide for the slots re-entrant extensions ltd. presently appear, by the provision of such slots an endless web iii is supported by the spools or reels either under tension or in a slack condition, optionally, and as may be found desirable dependent upon whether the device is actually in use or is at rest.

The endless web i9 is formed. of an elastic material, preferably vulcanized rubber trained over the spools or reels in a manner to serve admirably as a holder for a series of cards 2i each of which has on at least one of its faces an image 2|.

From the above it will be seen that the reels and endless web constitute an efiicient rotor from which radiates the picture cards 2i and the images on the successive cards 23, it will be understood, are so associated that when used successively they will display a sequence of action to the end that when the rotor is in operation and the pictures viewed in succession, the effect is that of a moving picture.

As will For actuating the rotor there is provided externally of the casing and suitably connected with one end of the shaft or spindle I6 of the spool or reel I4 a handle or crank 22 (see Figures 1 and 3).

Further in accordance with the present invention each picture card 20 is provided at one edge thereof with an integral locking tab 23, of the dove-tail variety, while the web- I9 is provided with a continuous series of relatively space-d transverse slits 24 as shown in Figure 5. It will thus be seen that in securing the picture cards 20 to the web I9 the dove-tail locking tabs 23 are inserted in the slits 2t and by reason of the clasticity of the web I9 which will cause the same to contract about the tabs, and the particular shape of the tabs, the card pictures will be secured in a positive and efficient manner to the web.

To the end that a smooth operation of the rotor will be had and to obviate any interference between the locking tabs 23 of the picture cards 20 and the peripheries of the spools or reels I3 and I I each of the latter as shown in Figures 3 and 4 is provided with a peripheral groove 25 of a depth and width as will accommodate the locking tabs 23 without possibility of any binding engagement of these tabs with the spools or reels.

Normally and to relieve tension on the elastic web I 9, and when the device is not in actual use, the ends of the spindle I5 of the spool I3 rest in the right hand ends of the slots I8.

When the device is to be used however this slack in the web is taken up by transferring the ends of the spindle or shaft I5 from the last mentioned ends of the slots I8 to the re-entrance ends I8a of the slots as suggested in Figure 1 whereby the spool I3 will then be rotatably supported at a greater distance from the spool Id, and at a distance sufiicient to place the web I9 under tension. With the web thus placed under tension it will be apparent that by a turning of the handle 22 the web will be caused to travel over the spools.

In the drawings the web I9 is illustrated as being mounted so as to move in a clockwise direction, and as the web is caused to move in this direction the picture cards 20 are successively brought into engagement with the separating abutment I I, and as each display card rides over the abutment II said card swings to the perpendicular position suggested in Figure 1. In this way the pictures are successively separately brought into the field of vision and the desired effect of sequential action is produced.

A new series of pictures may be readily substituted by removing and replacing the individual pictures. By reason of its simplicity and economy of parts the apparatus of this invention can be manufactured at low cost and consequently sold at a price which permits its use as a toy, advertising media or the like.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail it will be understood that certain changes may be made therein that come within the field of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a pair of substantially opposed spools journaled in said casing, an endless elastic web trained over said spools and provided with a continuous series of relatively spaced transverse slits, and a series of picture display cards mounted on and spaced around said web, each of said display cards having a dove-tail locking tab engaging in one of the slits, and each of said spools having a continuous groove in the periphery thereof to accommodate the locking pads of the picture display cards.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing, said casing having opposed side walls, a reel disposed in said casing and having a spindle the respective opposite ends of which are journaled in openings in said side Walls, a handle on one end of said spindle, a second reel having a spindle, and said opposed side Walls having therein slots provided at one end with turned reentrant extensions, and the spindle of said second reel having its respective opposite ends engaging in said slot for disposition at either end of the slot for supporting the second reel in a position nearer to or farther spaced from the first reel, optionally, an endless web trained over said reels, and a plurality of picture cards detachably connected at one end to said web and equi-distantly spaced around said web.

3. In an animated motion picture machine, a casing comprising a pair of complemental hingedly connected sections complementarily provided at one corner to present a sight opening and a fixed separating abutment at one end of the opening, a pair of substantially opposed spools journaled in said casing between the complemental sections thereof, a handle member externally of the casing and connected with one of said spools for turning the latter, an endless elastic web trained over said spools and provided with a continuous series of relatively spaced transverse slits, and a plurality of picture cards having edge portions engaging in the slits of said web, said picture cards being spaced around said web and engageable successively with said separating abutment.

JACK M. STOREY. PLEASANT E. SMITH. 

